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You are 22 months old my darling girl, and this past month has been one of our best yet. You have exploded with knowledge and comprehension and we seem (likely temporarily) out of the screamy temper tantrum stage. You are still hit or miss on your relationship with water, but this past weekend we managed to get you in up to your waist. Things were going well until you slipped and got your face wet. You promptly told me “all done…OUT MAMA OUT” and so that was the end of our water time for the day. Papa has been staying in the trailer for the past few weeks helping with some jobs around the house and you love having him here. Your arms get all flappy with excitement when you see him but you are really hit or miss on giving kisses…I think you are a bit unsure about his beard.

In the past few weeks you started saying: Grandma, Minion, Ok, Boat, zoom, Brush teeth, Stool, MINE ME, Me do. I can’t always remember the new words, but you seem to surprise us daily with what you say and understand. The only words you are way off on are horses, which you call Ninnys and you refer to yourself as Weetzie (which is THE CUTEST thing ever) One more recent developments to note–you can VERY clearly say more, but you will still sign “more” for emphasis. As it more goldfish, minions or ice cream. You are the cutest thing in the world that is for darn sure.

People always say that these days go so fast and there are so many of these moments that I want to cherish….one day I will remember something you did and be sad that you never will do it again. I want to always remember: you running to the door in the morning to give me a big kiss before I leave, the way you yell “Ba-bye”, our family hugs before bedtime, when you put your hands on both sides of my face to give me a kiss. When you make the “Muwah” sound before you even get in for a kiss, the way your eyes light up with you see Brooklyn. When we tell you that we are going out and ask if you are ready you will yell “YEP” and then run to get Daddy’s shoes and bring them to him, then get me mine, lastly you will pick out what you want to wear–which lately has always been your purple crocs. (I bought them at the dollar store so I can’t believe those are your faves) I want to never forget that bedtime lately includes tucking in all your babies, getting you water, tucking you in and then rubbing your back. The way you flap your arms when you get excited, how you giggle when Daddy tickles your tummy, and the way you say “come mama come” with your hand held out needing me to follow you upstairs/into the backyard/to come turn on the tap so you can brush your teeth.

You have started having night terrors which are scary and just so sad for Daddy and me to deal with. You aren’t quite awake but you are crying and we just have to try to talk you back into lying down and falling back asleep. Nothing is scarier than waking up to hearing you screaming my girl. I keep hearing that this is just a phase…one I can’t wait to see behind us. I just want you to have sweet dreams every night.

You also love putting cream on which has come in really handy with the whole summer sunscreen thing. We put it in your hands and you rub it everywhere…actually you seem to take after your mama when it comes to sun safety. You don’t like going out without a hat and your sunglasses…keeping you pale and burn free my darling. You can be translucent like me!

I could probably write 15 more paragraphs about you at this age my love—we enjoy seeing glimpses of your personality and the girl you are becoming.

You are funny, smart, strong willed and adorable. I could not possibly love you more, even if I tried.

Love you more than all the stars my girl,

Mama

She dresses herself these days

Inspecting Booboos (real and imagined)

“Helping” Nana walk Brooklyn

LOVE the hat girl

KO’ed

Summertime nudity is awesome

Covered in stickers, and being too quiet, I found her in the bathroom washing her minion toy in the sink

Time marches on…and now it is 4 months until you are TWO…(and Mama commences her panic attack over here.) This month has brought many changes for you. Your vocabulary has really started exploding, and you are talking a lot, most times we have no idea what you are saying, but you are adamant about getting your point across. We cannot tell the difference between “Brooklyn” and “Bunny” so we often guess and hope we know who you mean. Daddy and I are so excited for the months ahead as you start to be able to communicate more about your needs. You have started saying: Sticky (wanting your hands washed after eating), Bug, Ew, Watch, Soap, water, and you can now list all the kids names from daycare. Your favourite friends are Mannie (Maddy) AYA (Aria…for some reason you always yell her name. Very enthusiastic of you!) and Paul.

First hair cut

Nana and I took you for your first hair cut a few weeks ago. That mullet you were sporting needed to be taken care of. Much to our surprise you sat in the Nemo chair and loved it. The hair dresser was very impressed as you sat there for your trim, ponytail and glitter hair spray. (Clearly it is my superior parenting skills that kept you from freaking out) Your Dad wasn’t too impressed that I let her give you bangs, but dang it you look adorable!

LOVING the baby

Auntie Meg and Uncle Reg came for dinner with baby Kaelyn and you loved her. I wish I had got a better photo, but you kept saying baby, and giggling at her little toes. You were less than thrilled about me holding her, so I just looked from a distance. I love seeing you start to notice and take an interest in those around you. Maybe this means you wouldn’t object to a sibling at some point?!

Face washing

We recently bought you a stool so you can stand up at the sink in the bathroom and you love brushing your teeth and would happily wash your hands for hours at a time. I cannot comprehend your love of water in that way when you still detest a bath.

Dressing yourself

You enjoy dressing yourself to some extent. Thank goodness Boston Terrier Rainboots go with every outfit these days.

First time face painting

I’m sorry sweetie, I promise no more toilet pics on the internet

Much to our surprise you have been a huge fan of using the potty at school. They had us send in big girl undies for you (Nana bought you some adorable Minnie Mouse ones) and they are going to be working on that with you there. You have NO interest when we ask you at home, but we are not going to force it and just let this happen naturally. But my darling, should you choose to potty train early and easily? Well, Mummy will be eternally grateful and might get you a car for your 16th birthday. (Might!!!!!)

Mornings are still a crazy shuffle around the house, and when I look back on this time I want to remember how much you LOVE smoothies for breakfast, but just looking at the blender totally freaks you out. We have to be in the other room when Daddy starts blending and even then you cling to me like a spider monkey until it is over. You have started taking on some responsibilities in the home which you take very seriously. You feed Brooklyn, and if we would let you you would keep that bowl filled to the brim. You wipe down your high chair when you finish eating, and enjoy wiping down all surfaces (definitely take after Grand-maman and Nana in the cleaning department)

Great time killers for you right now are moving magnets from the fridge to the dishwasher, playing with bowls of water and measuring cups on the floor, looking at pictures, playing with stickers and going through wallets.

You are 19 months old. I was thinking about this last week and then suddenly couldn’t catch my breath thinking that in 5 months you will turn two. I feel as though your first year went by slowly enough, but TWO my dear is right around the corner. How is that even a thing? I feel like we waited for ages for you to turn one and it was so crazy, but two is just TWO…..you are fully a big kid at 2 I think? Sometimes I can’t wrap my head around how time marches on. (and on and on)

You somehow manage to concurrently be the most adorable and yet frustrating being in my whole universe. Diaper changes have become Olympic style wrestling matches…and as long as it takes me in the morning to wrestle you out of jammies and into clothes, at night it takes me twice as long to get you out of clothes and back into PJs. You seem to insist on wearing whatever you currently have on. Several mornings your Dad and I have debated sending you to daycare pajama clad, soggy bum and all. I feel as though our threats about that fall on deaf ears as you never waver. I am trying to pretend that this is all a lesson in how to remain calm under pressure–and you are just an EXCELLENT teacher my sweet Zozo.

Your love for bubbles and the outdoors has grown as the weather has brightened up. You spent most of Saturday morning outside at Nana’s house wearing a onesie, hat and your rubber boots. It was 30 degrees but you were hollering for your boots when I tried to put shoes on you. So boots it was. You like going for walks, splashing in puddles, pointing out garden ornaments, bugs, birds and dogs. Just this past week you learned how much fun swings can be and now you are hooked. Daddy and I might try to get you a swing set for the backyard…we have the room and saves us walking all the way to the park. You still are not a fan of the bath. I have resigned myself to being the mother of the worlds cutest smelly kid. I can deal with that. You absolutely adore stickers, markers and have begun to take great joy in colouring all over yourself. I left you colouring in your high chair for a few minutes yesterday, came back into the kitchen and your arm and face had you resembling a smurf more so than a Zoë. You love Nana’s craft room and have proceeded to snap the tip off each of her pencil crayons. After each break you look surprised, hand her the broken one, grab another and smash that into the paper until it breaks. You still love reading and your favourite at the moment is the series of chat books I have ordered from instagram pictures. You point at and name people in the photos but whenever we come to one of you you say “baby”. Not sure at what point you will realize that they are pictures of you….but in the meantime its a great distraction for you to go through all of the photos.

As I complain about every month, you still aren’t all that snuggly, but sometimes you will come flying up to us for a huge hug and I just squeeze you back and sniff your neck. I could completely crush you in those moments with the sheer weight of my love for you.
You are starting to chat up a storm and constantly surprise us with what you can say. This past week you have said “Walsh, Elliott, ready (for when Daddy is pushing you in the swing) bug, dirt, splash, Elmo” and probably a few others I have already forgotten. Your go-to words are still “nooo” (with the CUTEST intonation at the end that kills me) and “Uh-oh” You call both Brooklyn and your bunny “Bud-eh” Sometimes Brooklyn gets some form of “Brooky” but usually it is interchangeable.

Your appetite is hit or miss…we never know if you will eat a Mummy sized portion of lasagna or just a few bites of goldfish crackers. You have really enjoyed burgers, pancakes, the icing off the top of a cupcake and ice cream as of late. You know what cupboard we keep the goldfish crackers in and you point to it and open and close your mouth when you want some. We always fall for it…it’s beyond cute Your nighttime sleep is better but you are still quite the early riser and naps at home are all over the map. When your Dad and I refuse to let you sleep in in 14 years please don’t think we are horrid…just remember you did this to yourself.

This summer Daddy and I are looking forward to our family adventures. Last year you were the cutest, but obviously didn’t do a lot–this year I see many a splash pad/park date/outdoor adventure to be had. I just so look forward to the months ahead learning who you are becoming and laughing at the absurdity that is parenting.

Our little Bean brought two things home from daycare last week: Her first finger painting (eeeeee so cute) and her first cold (less thrilling). She proceeded to cough directly in Garret’s mouth so he quickly succumbed to the illness as well. Z had a really bad cough which was impeding her already less than stellar sleep record. Over the weekend she fought her naps like crazy managing to hold off until 5pm on Sunday…a feat worth commenting on for sure. Somehow her illness did NOT effect her energy level and she was just as energetic and getting into everything as a healthy 15 month old. I am finding this age to be really challenging. I love her to bits, but she is redefining the word “Busy”. She gets into EVERYTHING and her favourite pastimes include emptying things (tupperware drawer, toy box, dogs food/water dishes) and attempting to rip down our blinds. When I first went back to work I was determined to find a way that I could stay home with her. The mere thought of being apart was damaging to my psyche…now I feel that perhaps I am a better mother for being back at work. She gets her time with other kids (I get mine with grownups) and when her language skills develop more we will have much to talk about at the end of the day!

Friend’s of ours gifted us with a newborn photo session from the talented Jennifer Hall as our shower gift. She was amazing and I can’t get over how beautiful the pictures are! Is it wrong I think my daughter is the most beautiful baby in the universe? I am not going to show them all here since they are going to be Christmas presents (thanks maternity leave budget) so some should be surprises. But they are just so amazing I have to share some of them:

She was 6 days old in these pictures and it already seems like a lifetime ago!

I find there are two types of nights Zoë and I seem to have. 1. Awesome, falling right back to sleep after eating, feeling like long stretches of sleep for us both “omg I am winning at parenting” or 2. OMG child, diaper blowout, cat napping, projectile vomiting, I want to sell you to a roving band of gypsies type. Last night was a #2 type of night.

Those nights lead to mornings where I cant seem to get myself going. Today I can’t even remember if I made breakfast and was barely able to get the two of us out of the house for a 1:30 appointment. I arrived there and realized I hadn’t brushed my hair. Lovely! I know that it will get easier and she will begin to sleep more and I will become more organized and better at functioning with minimal sleep…but at 3am the upcoming months of sleeping in 2-3 hour bursts stretch out ahead of me as a daunting prospect. Every few nights she takes pity on me and sleeps for a 5 hour stretch which leads me to wake up feeling as though I could go into battle.

I realize it has only been a month so I shouldn’t expect any sort of routine, but I tend to thrive on organized, knowing what to expect types of situations…which it would seem no longer exist once you are a parent. I am trying to focus on how short a period of time this is and that I need to enjoy her being so small. I keep hearing that this year will fly by faster than any other and I don’t want to wish away this special time. Here’s hoping she takes pity on her poor Mummy tonight and has a nice stretch of sleep. 4-5 hours would feel like a lifetime!

Gus is getting bigger and yet my belly hasn’t fully expanded to accommodate this pineapple sized being. The past week or so I think s/he gets all crammed up and has to do some Pilates type stretching to get comfy…if I look down I can see my whole belly shift and some limb or another start protruding from the left side. G and I were watching TV last night (Orange is the New Black, our current obsession) and I had him just sit with his hand on my belly. I think it freaked him out to feel that the gentle rumbles from before have been replaced with flying ninja kicks. I can actually feel limbs and feet and stuff now…so surreal! And from time to time it feels like there are two things in there wrestling around for more space